Georgia Joyce is a member of Tressler’s Insurance Practice Group. She represents insurers and insureds in federal and state court in a wide variety of insurance coverage litigation, including claims under general liability policies; life, health and accident policies; professional liability policies and financial institution bonds. She has experience in all phases of litigation, mediation and settlement. Georgia has also represented insurers and insureds as coverage counsel in matters involving directors and officers liability insurance, professional liability/errors and omissions insurance and financial institution bonds. In addition, Georgia has represented insurance clients in bankruptcy court in adversary proceedings alleging fraudulent conveyances, preferential transfers and other bankruptcy-related issues.
Georgia received her J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law with a certificate in Environmental & Energy Law and currently works out of Tressler's Chicago office.
Where are you from?
I was born in Indianapolis, Indiana.
What is your family like?
My family is small, but there is never a dull moment. My husband, Jim, is also an attorney. We met in bankruptcy class when we both were night students at Chicago-Kent. Jim practices in a small firm in the suburbs and handles a wide variety of cases. He has great stories! We also have two cats that I adore. Jim says he could do without – but don’t believe him. We have a log cabin home near Racoon Lake in Parke County, Indiana, where we try to get away when we can. Jim reads on the porch and I garden and cook.
Georgia's two cats, Blue (left) and Monica (right).
Georgia's husband, Jim.
Georgia and Jim's log cabin home near Racoon Lake.
What was your first job?
I was a cashier at Dominick’s in Western Springs, IL.
Do you have any hidden talents and/or unique hobbies?
I played the saxophone in the Lyons Township High School Marching Band and was a scuba diver.
What is on your bucket list?
I want to take my husband to the Great Smokey Mountains and make him listen to Blue Grass music.
Why did you decide to become an attorney?
I became an attorney because of Perry Mason and my father. My father was a U.S. Postal Inspector in Chicago and handled major mail fraud investigations. He worked with many of the U.S. Attorneys in the N.D. of IL. When he retired, and some of those attorneys went into private practice, he investigated their cases. (My mother was a pharmacist and everyone said I should follow in her footsteps, but I did not like science.)
What does a typical workday look like for you?
I like to get an early start because the day can get away quickly. I am not sure there is a typical day, which is what I like. The day may involve drafting analysis letters; research; drafting pleadings, motions, answering discovery; court appearances; reporting to clients, and/or reviewing documents, etc. Our cases are interesting and you will always learn something new!
Why did you choose your areas of practice?
My business background led to my first real legal position. I worked at a law firm that specialized in all kinds of insurance coverage work. From there, I had the opportunity to move into insurance litigation.
What do you like most about Tressler?
In my three months at Tressler, I have been working on compelling cases with great lawyers who are genuinely interested in helping you do your best. The firm provides the best tools and support to help get the work done. The people are friendly and there are so many opportunities to get involved and contribute to a successful firm.
What are you most proud of, professionally and/or personally?
I am proud and grateful to have worked for many years and continue to work in the legal profession and for the many colleagues who also enjoy the work, share great stories and support each other through the good times and the challenging times.
Law is my second career. Before law school, I was an Investment Analyst for regional brokerage companies in Dallas, TX and Chicago. In Texas, I analyzed the financial condition of banks and oil companies and made investment recommendations to the firm’s retail brokers. It sounds kind of intense, but it was a lot of fun. I traveled around the Southwest to visit the companies assigned to me and I would visit the brokers at their offices around Texas and discuss the investment outlook for the companies I followed. Learning to drink beer and eat barbecue were essential skills, which I carry with me today!
Georgia Joyce can be reached at gjoyce@tresslerllp.com. Learn more about our attorneys by visiting www.tresslerllp.com/attorneys.
